Meet Michael Coll: Chief Technology Officer

Can you tell us a bit about your background and the path that led you to Chorus?

Most of my adult life has been consumed with music, and the music industry. I dropped out of university (computer science) to pursue music, then turned down a job with the police to pursue music. However, I actually managed to make a go of it and was fully professional for several years, ultimately signing a record deal with one of the major labels (Universal) in America. 

Like most journeys through the music industry, mine ended in catastrophic fashion and I was soon back in Glasgow, unemployed. It was a hard reset, but it also gave me the opportunity to properly lean into my interest in building digital products.

A contact I’d made reached out to offer me a role leading product and technology at his new startup, which was a tech play in the music media industry, specifically the rock music media industry. Given my background (rock music and tech) this was a perfect opportunity at the perfect time.

This startup ran for 4 years and then also ended in catastrophic fashion. I decided there and then to take control of my own destiny and started to work on building my own SaaS company, but in the interim I needed a job and thankfully I was approached by Arnold Clark where I had an amazing 8 years leading Product Management.

In the background, I kept working on my own business and very slowly it grew until I could go and work on it full time. My path crossed with Chorus because we both work with Scottish Enterprise, and that’s how I was introduced to Iain and Rory.           

What originally drew you to the tech world and what’s kept you there?

I’ve always been into technology and building things from as early as I can remember. When I was 5 I begged my parents for a Commodore 64 and started coding before I even knew what coding was, and I just never stopped. 

Despite doing a few years of Computing Science at uni, I’d say every skill I have used in my career has been self-taught.

You’ve had a varied career, which experiences have most shaped how you work today?

I’d say it’s mostly my interactions with people. I’m fortunate to have been exposed to, and work alongside a very wide variety of individuals ranging from ex-convicts in factory jobs, to household name rock stars, major business leaders and everyone in between. Ultimately everyone is just a person trying to get through their day, and crucially, no-one really knows what they’re doing. 

We’re all just trying to get by and deal with our own problems. If you can come to terms with that it really changes how you see people and how you navigate life.

What excited you about stepping into the CTO role at Chorus?

In order of priority, the people, then the opportunity, then the people again. 

When I met Iain and Rory we just got on really well and I find that to be a great indicator for a successful professional relationship. If you can’t speak freely and have a laugh then you’re done before you’ve started.

I think Chorus “the business” is in a great place. The company is perfectly positioned as “the little guys” (you know what I mean) who are looking to take on the industry giants and I absolutely love that; that kind of situation is what I’m all about. 

Back to the people again, once I met Chris, Sam and Calum I just got a really good vibe and thought I’d really like to work with them. Unsure if that feeling is mutual but we’ll get there!

How has your experience influenced your approach to tech leadership?

Again, I need to go back to people. No-one is better than you, no-one is worse than you so I just try to not be difficult, don’t have an ego and absolutely most importantly don’t BS people. 

I’ve worked with so many people who talk in riddles or dance around points that need to be made and it benefits no-one. I believe very strongly that a leader’s job is to allow their teams to excel. It’s more of a facilitation role, and less a hierarchical one. Obviously that does come into it but should be the lesser of the two parts of the job. 

What excites you most about Chorus’s direction at the moment?

From what I can see the company is perfectly positioned to take a lot of market share from the established players in the game. Our competitors are large, established, legacy companies whereas Chorus is young, hungry and we’re able to move and adapt much quicker than the incumbents. It’s exciting!

What’s one thing people might be surprised to learn about you?

I collect flashlights, which is the fancy, cool name for “torches”. I own several, embarrassingly expensive and very very bright models. They are awesome.